Ski pole discs for imparting information and images

ABSTRACT

A disc for attachment to a ski pole provides snow resistance and imparts information. The disc includes a lower surface configured to form an image in the snow that imparts information to a person viewing the formed image, an upper surface, which may also impart information to a person viewing that surface, and a hole configured to receive an end of the ski pole to attach the disc to the ski pole.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/609,673, filed Sep. 13, 2004, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a ski pole disc for use on a ski pole thatfunctions to provide snow resistance when a skier thrusts the pole intothe snow, while forming or imprinting an information-imparting image inthe snow and/or having an information-imparting upper surface. Theinvention also relates to methods of imparting information andadvertising.

2. Related Art

Ski poles are used by snow skiers to help balance themselves as they skiover uneven terrain or around curves. A conventional ski pole has alower end and a top end having a handle area by which the ski pole ismanipulated by the user. A disc, sometimes referred to as a basket orwheel, is employed near the lower end of the ski pole to provide snowresistance, and thus a measure of support, when the user thrusts thepole into snow.

Various geometrical designs have been employed for ski pole discs. Thetypical disc is circular, with a hub, an outer rim, and integral radialribs or spokes. The hub may be plastic, metal, rubber, or the like andmay be pivotally mounted to the ski pole. The rim may be plastic, metal,or similar materials, and the ribs are typically plastic or rubber.Examples of this general type of configuration are shown in U.S. Pat.No. 3,163,437 (Phillipson); U.S. Pat. No. 3,199,886 (Dover); U.S. Pat.No. 3,250,545 (Cameron); U.S. Pat. No. D169,644 (Weiss); and U.S. Pat.No. D196,847 (Miller). These conventional designs suffer from certaindisadvantages. For example, they tend to be rather heavy and expensiveto manufacture, provide a relatively small snow resistance, and aresubject to getting caught on obstacles, such as branches and twigs. Inaddition, these discs are not useful for forming information-impartingimages in the snow. Nor do these discs provide an information-impartingupper surface.

Other designs have sought to overcome the disadvantages discussed aboveby employing a largely solid disc, as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat.No. 3,743,311 (Giambazi); U.S. Pat. No. D279,024 (Nordgren et al.); U.S.Pat. No. D302,288 (Filice); U.S. Pat. No. D315,591 (Ehlert); U.S. Pat.No. D316,132 (Ehlert); U.S. Pat. No. D343,217 (Jarvinen); and U.S. Pat.No. D351,887 (Zimmerman). The solid discs tend to provide greater snowresistance due in part to their shape and larger surface area. However,these discs also are not useful for forming information-imparting imagesin the snow or imparting information to a viewer of a top surface of thedisc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a disc for attachment to aski pole to provide snow resistance and impart information. The discincludes a lower surface configured to form an image in the snow thatimparts information to a person viewing the formed image, an uppersurface, which also may impart information to a person viewing thatsurface, and a hole configured to receive an end of the ski pole toattach the disc to the ski pole. The invention also provides methods ofimparting information and advertising.

Embodiments of the present invention may include one or more of thefollowing features. The imparted information may be at least one ofcommercial information, advertising, political information, personalidentification, organizational identification, and team identificationinformation. The formed image may include a text portion and/or apictorial portion. The formed image also may include a logo. A ski polemay be provided that includes the disc.

These and other objects, features and advantages will be apparent fromthe following description of the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric illustration of a skier moving on skis over asnow surface and employing ski poles in both her left and right hands.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a butterfly formed in a snow surface bythe ski pole disc of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the lower surface of a ski pole disc,wherein an image representing a butterfly is formed in the snow surfaceeach time the disc contacts the snow surface.

FIG. 4 is an elevational, slightly isometric side view of the ski poledisc of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an end view, slightly isometric of the ski pole disc of FIG.3.

FIG. 6 is a top view of an alternate design of a ski pole disc securedto the lower end portion of a ski pole, the ski pole being shown brokenaway.

FIG. 7 is an isometric bottom view of a ski pole disc as affixed to thelower end portion of a ski pole with the ski pole shown broken away.

FIG. 8 is an isometric, exploded top view of a ski pole disc and insert.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings and first to FIG. 1, an example of the use ofthe image-imparting ski pole disc of this invention is illustrated. FIG.1 shows a typical skier 10 having skis 12 and moving over a snow surface14. The skier 10 is shown using two ski poles 16, 18, one in each hand.The ski poles 16, 18 are elongated and have an upper end portion 20 anda lower end portion 24. Affixed to each of the ski poles 16, 18, at thelower end portion 24, is an image-imparting ski pole disc 26.

In the illustration of FIG. 1, each of the ski pole discs 26 imprintsthe snow surface 14 with an image that imparts information to someoneviewing the image. The imparted information conveyed in the image mayinclude, for example, commercial information, advertising, politicalinformation, religious information, sports-related information,nonsensical or humorous information, entertainment, style or fashioninformation, personal, organizational, or team identificationinformation, etc. The image may include a likeness of a person, animalor object, and/or text, e.g., letters, numbers, words, and phrases. Forexample, the image may be a commercial image, e.g., a logo, with orwithout accompanying text, such as a name or trademark.

In the arrangement of FIG. 1 each of the ski pole discs 26 is configuredto form an image in the snow surface 14, each time the disc engages asnow surface, e.g., an image of a butterfly. That is, an imprinted image28 is formed each time a ski pole disc 26 contacts a snow surface 14that gives the visual impression of a butterfly. In this way, skier 10leaves identification information along her ski tracks 30 that wouldhelp enable a skier following to identify the individual who has beenalong the same route previously.

FIG. 2 is an enlargement of one of the imprints 28 formed in snowsurface 14.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show more details of the ski pole disc 26 and shows endand side edges. FIG. 3 shows specifically the bottom surface 32 of skipole disc 26. The ski pole disc 26 is formed by a bottom surface that isdefined by an outer circumferential edge 34 that outlines the shape ofthe image that is to be imprinted in the snow surface. In this example,the circumferential edge 34 outlines the shape of a butterfly.

Formed in bottom surface 32 are a plurality of contoured recesses 36configured to form the imprint of the intended image when the ski disccontacts snow surface 14. The recesses 36 vary in size, shape, contour,depth, and so forth, so that taken together they form a contoured bottomsurface within a peripheral edge 34 that forms an image-impartingimprint when the ski pole disc contacts a snow surface. Alternatively,the imprint of the intended image may be formed by bottom surface 32having contoured raised surfaces that act to compact the snow to formcorresponding contours in the snow surface.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show an alternative embodiment of an image-imparting skipole disc, in this case identified by the numeral 38. FIG. 6 shows thelower end portion 24 of a ski pole 18 having a ski pole disc 38 securedthereto. The ski pole disc 38 in FIGS. 6 and 7 is intended to provide animprinted image in a snow surface that includes both a text portion anda pictorial portion. In this instance, the pictorial portion of theimage is formed by recesses 40 of the ski pole disc 38 outlined bycircumferential edge 34 that depicts the head of a horse. The textportion of the image is formed by other recesses 42 in the ski pole discbottom surface that form the imprint of letters in the snow surface, andin this case the letters form the word “BRONCOS.”

The ski pole disc of FIGS. 6 and 7 demonstrates how the lower contouredsurface of the ski pole disc can employ both text portions and pictorialportions to provide an image indicative of an athletic team, such as alogo. This embodiment further illustrates that the upper surface of thedisc also may be used to impart information. For example, the “BRONCOS”logo on the upper surface will be visible to others as the skier iswaiting in a lift line or using a chair lift to reach the top of the skislope. In one embodiment, only the upper surface of the disc isconfigured to impart information.

Ski pole discs can be secured to the lower end of ski poles in a numberof ways. For example, the disc may have a central opening 44therethrough that receives the lower end portion 24 of a ski pole 18.The ski pole 18 may be tapered, and the disc opening 44 may have acorresponding taper, so that when the lower end of a ski pole isinserted into the ski pole disc, the ski pole disc is held in place byfrictional engagement. FIG. 7 shows the lower end portion 24 of a skipole extending through the ski pole disc 38 and through opening 44therein, with the lower end 46 of the ski pole extending beyond thebottom surface of the ski pole disc.

As shown in FIG. 8, an insert 50 may be provided that fits into thecentral opening 44 of the ski pole disc 38 to enable the disc to befirmly engaged with the lower end portion 24 of the ski pole 18. Theinsert 50 may be a hollow cylinder with longitudinal slots 52 at one endto provide flexibility, so that it can be inserted into the centralopening 44 of the disc 38. The ends of the insert may havecircumferential rims 54 that are larger in diameter than the centralopening 44 to allow the insert to lock into position in the disc 38.Once the insert 50 is installed in the disc 38, the lower end portion 24of the ski pole 18 is inserted through in the center 56 of the insert50. Because ski poles vary in diameter and shape, inserts of varioussizes and configurations may be provided with each disc to allow thedisc to be installed on a variety of different ski poles.

There are numerous systems for removably securing a ski pole disc 38 tothe lower end 24 of a ski pole 18, and it is understood that the presentinvention can employ any known attachment method. Further, the ski poledisc of the present invention may be more or less permanently secured tothe lower end portion of ski poles, instead of being removable. However,in the preferred arrangement, the ski pole discs are designed forreplaceable use in combination with ski poles, so that the owner of aset of ski poles can have more than one set of ski pole discs toselectively impart different images. The disc 38 may be removed byapplying a downward force and possibly a twisting force to the disc 38and insert 50 assembly and sliding the assembly off the lower end 24 ofthe ski pole 18.

The replaceable nature of the ski pole disc allows the user toperiodically change the disc in accordance with the user's tastes. Forexample, a particular disc may be selected to mark an occasion, such asa win by a favorite sports team. As a further example, discs havingadvertising images may be sold to or given to skiers or may be attachedto rental ski poles to encourage skiers to disseminate advertisinginformation.

As noted above, the present invention includes methods of impartinginformation using a disc attachable to a ski pole. In certainembodiments, the disc is selected based on a configuration of a lowersurface of the disc, which forms an image in the snow that impartsinformation to a person viewing the formed image. Other embodiments mayinclude thrusting the ski pole into a snow surface, and lifting the skipole, so as to leave the information-imparting image in the snowsurface. Alternatively, the disc may be selected for attachment to theski pole based on a configuration of an upper surface of the disc, whichimparts information to a person viewing the upper surface, or based onthe configuration of both the upper and lower surfaces.

The present invention also includes methods of advertising, in which aski pole disc is formed having an advertising image on a lower surfaceof the disc. The lower surface is configured to impress the advertisingimage in the snow. The ski pole disc is provided to a user and isremovably attached to a ski pole by the user. Alternatively, the skipole disc may be formed to have an advertising image on an upper surfaceof the disc, which is configured to impart the advertising image to aperson viewing the upper surface, or on both the upper and lowersurfaces.

While the present invention has been described with respect to what ispresently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiments. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

1. A disc for attachment to a ski pole to provide snow resistance andimpart information, the disc comprising: a lower surface of the discconfigured to form an image in the snow that imparts information to aperson viewing the formed image; an upper surface of the disc; and ahole configured to receive an end of the ski pole to attach the disc tothe ski pole.
 2. A disc attachable to a ski pole to impart information,the disc comprising: a lower surface of the disc; an upper surface ofthe disc configured to impart information to a person viewing the uppersurface; and a hole configured to receive an end of the ski pole toattach the disc to the ski pole.
 3. The disc of claim 1, wherein theupper surface of the disc is configured to impart information to aperson viewing the upper surface.
 4. The disc of claim 3, wherein theinformation is imparted by at least a text portion.
 5. The disc of claim3, wherein the information is imparted by at least a pictorial portion.6. The disc of claim 3, wherein the information is imparted by at leasta text portion and a pictorial portion.
 7. The disc of claim 3, whereinthe imparted information is at least one of commercial information,advertising, and political information.
 8. The disc of claim 3, whereinthe imparted information is at least one of religious information,sports-related information, nonsensical information, humorousinformation, entertainment information, style information, and fashioninformation.
 9. The disc of claim 3, wherein the imparted information isat least one of personal identification, organizational identification,and team identification information.
 10. The disc of claim 3, whereinthe information comprises a logo.
 11. The disc of claim 3, wherein thedisc is attached to the ski pole using a cylindrical insert configuredto fit within the hole in the disc.
 12. A ski pole comprising the discof claim
 3. 13. A method of imparting information using a discattachable to a ski pole to provide snow resistance and impartinformation, the method comprising: selecting the disc based on aconfiguration of a lower surface of the disc, the lower surface formingan image in the snow that imparts information to a person viewing theformed image; and attaching the disc to the ski pole.
 14. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the disc is attached to the ski pole using acylindrical insert configured to fit within a hole in the disc.
 15. Themethod of claim 13, further comprising selecting the disc based on aconfiguration of an upper surface of the disc, wherein the upper surfaceimparts information to a person viewing the upper surface.
 16. Themethod of claim 13, further comprising: thrusting the ski pole into asnow surface; and lifting the ski pole so as to leave aninformation-imparting image in the snow surface.
 17. A method ofimparting information using a disc attachable to a ski pole to providesnow resistance and impart information, the method comprising: selectingthe disc based on a configuration of an upper surface of the disc,wherein the upper surface imparts information to a person viewing theupper surface; and attaching the disc to the ski pole.
 18. The method ofclaim 17, wherein the disc is attached to the ski pole using acylindrical insert configured to fit within the hole in the disc. 19.The method of claim 17, further comprising displaying the ski pole to aviewer.
 20. A method of advertising, comprising: forming a ski pole dischaving an advertising image on a lower surface of the disc, the lowersurface being configured to impress the advertising image in the snow;and providing the ski pole disc to a user, wherein the ski pole disc isremovably attachable to a ski pole by the user.
 21. A method ofadvertising, comprising: forming a ski pole disc having an advertisingimage on an upper surface of the disc, the upper surface beingconfigured to impart the advertising image to a person viewing the uppersurface; and providing the ski pole disc to a user, wherein the ski poledisc is removably attachable to a ski pole by the user.
 22. The methodof advertising of claim 21, wherein the ski pole disc also has anadvertising image on a lower surface of the disc, the lower surfacebeing configured to impress the advertising image in the snow.